APARTMENT ALLOCATION POLICY

While an applicant’s listing date is an important factor in allocating family apartment/flat accommodation, an application may be deferred if it is considered that the allocation would be detrimental to the applicant, or to the existing tenants in the block/apartment, or heighten or create conflict or problems in the complex/block.

10. Allocations to apartment/flat accommodation must not be made solely upon date order of application but also have regard to:

The needs of the applicant
The composition of the existing tenant group at the complex
Any particular problems associated with the complex
Any substantiated, recent or consistent breaches of the Tenancy Agreement or RTA by the applicant (private or Homeswest).

10.1 Examples of legitimate deferral

An allocation to a family with children to a complex with a significant number of seniors, who are already distressed at the noise of the children currently living at the complex/block.
An allocation of a person or family of an ethnic group with which, there are current or historical tensions with another group already living in the complex/block.
A person/family who are unused to medium density and/or high rise accommodation or with extended family ties.
A person/family with a substantiated record of poor tenancy, particularly anti-social behaviour.

10.2 Children

The placement of applicants with children below the age of 12 years in apartment and flat accommodation is not preferred.
Any allocation of apartment/flat accommodation to applicants with children below the age of 12 years should be made carefully and with regard for the history of the block/complex, the lack of play facilities and safety issues.

	the placement of applicants with children 6 years of age or below in above ground level apartment and flat accommodation should only occur at the applicant’s insistence. 9.3 Accommodation Manager Any allocations to an apartment/flat complex must be made in conjunction with the Accommodation Manager responsible for the block/complex.
Deferral of an Allocation 11. A deferral of an allocation must be referred to the Manager Customer Services, Area Manager, Assistant Regional Manager for approval.
Under-Occupancy 12. An allocation to apartment/flat accommodation may be in excess of an applicant’s bedroom entitlement as an incentive to occupy or to resolve a family problem.	12.1 Examples: A single person may be allocated two or three bedroom accommodation. A single non-custodial parent with limited access to children may be allocated a bedroom for the children, despite the fact that they stay for limited periods only. A tenant wishing to sponsor relatives under an assurance of support may be allocated sufficient bedrooms for the sponsored family (See ELIGIBILITY POLICY). A senior may be permitted accommodation with sufficient bedrooms for grandchildren to stay over.
Townhouse Complexes 13. The Apartment Allocation policy may be used to govern allocations to townhouse accommodation at the discretion of the Regional Manager.